Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. Katie Ledecky On Cusp Of Tying World Championships Record of Michael Phelps When the World Championships begin on Sunday in Fukuoka, American Katie Ledecky will immediately get to work in one of the most-anticipated events of the competition. The women’s 400-meter freestyle is scheduled for Day One and will feature the last three world-record holders in the event – Ledecky, Australian Ariarne Titmus and Canadian Summer McIntosh. If Ledecky can secure gold in the event, she would tie Michael Phelps for the most individual gold medals won at the World Championships. Phelps claimed 15 titles over World Champs appearances in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. Ledecky has won 14 gold medals in solo action, spread over World Championships appearances in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Ledecky is likely to set the record this week in Japan, as she is the overwhelming favorite for gold in the 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, events in which she is the world-record holder. A victory in the 400 freestyle would tie Phelps early in the meet and enable Ledecky – if she won the longer events – to separate herself atop the individual gold-medal chart. After sweeping the 400 free, 800 free and 1500 free at her first World Championships, in 2013 in Barcelona, Ledecky repeated in those events at the 2015 World Champs. At that edition in Kazan, she also won the 200 freestyle. Her number of individual world crowns rose to 10 after she won the three longer events at the 2017 meet in Budapest. A stomach bug derailed Ledecky at the 2019 World Championships, where she was forced to withdraw from the 200 freestyle and 1500 freestyle. However, she recovered enough to prevail in the 800 freestyle in Gwangju. Then last year, she captured the 400 free, 800 free and 1500 free to move her total to 14 gold medals at Worlds. Phelps owns records for the most medals (33) and overall golds (26) in World Championships competition. He is also the most-decorated Olympian in history, thanks to 28 medals, 23 of which are gold.
